Hasan ibn Ali was born March1, 625 CE as son of Fatimah who was prophet Muhammad’s daughter and the son of the Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib. Hasan died 669 CE when he was 47 years old.

When he was born, as Shia and Sunni sources saying, Muhammad named him Hasan even that name was not used in that period. It was name archangel Gabriel told Muhammad to use for his grandson. Muhamad honored his grandson, recited the Adhan and the Iqamah, shaved his head and then sacrificed ram.

Hasan had four wives, Umm Ishaq bint Talha ibn ‘Ubayd Allah, Hafsa bint ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Bakr, Hind bint Suhayl bin ‘Amru and Ju’da bint al-Ash’ath ibn Qays.

His childhood Hasan spent watching his father going to battle to defend Islam, preaching and as a missionary in Yemen. Muhammad loved Hasan and his brother Husayn very much which can be found in many hadiths. There are many hadiths that talk about Hasan and Husayn as imams and the Masters of the youth in paradise. It is told that Hasan was the first after Muhammad, from Muhammad’s family who entered Yemeni Kisa. He entered Yemeni Kisa as a child, walking with Muhammad and holding his hand, and testified at Mubahila to the truth of Islam.

While Muhammad was in Medina, Hasan was playing in his arms and Muhammad said to his companions, looking at Hasan, that his grandson is a lord and that God will place reconciliation of two big groups of believers in Hasan’s hands.

Hasan assisted his father to gather an army against dissenting Muslims after the third caliph was killed by protestants. He went with his father to fight in Basra, Nahrawan and Siffing, showing his skills of a leader.

After Ali died in Kufa, it was necessary to elect a new caliph. Ali before died told that caliph can be eeither Hasan or his brother Husayn and Kufi Muslims gave caliphate to Hasan.

Muawiyah inb Abi Sufyan, who had long lasting arguments with Ali, gathered his forces to attach Hasan. First he tried to negotiate with Hasan and after negotiations failed he decided to attack Hasan. Muawiyah army was 60,000 soldiers while Hasan’s around 40,000. The armies met near Sabat and Hasan gave the sermon and explained hatred of schism. He asked from his soldiers to obey his order even if they don’t share the same opinion. There were some who believed Hasan won’t go to battle and they attacked him and wounded, but his soldiers caught and killed rebels.

Armies fought several times, but Hasan was upset knowing  that If Muslims fight against each other, that means a huge loss for all. Same worries had Muawiyah who sent people to negotiate with Hasan and find some way out. There are two versions of what happened after. Shia scholars saying that Hasan wasn’t able to win and therefore signed agreement and gave power to Muawiyah under terms that after his death caliphate will be returned to him if he is still alive or to his younger brother. Sunni scholars saying that Hasan asked that Muawiyah follows Qur’an and the Sunnah which means to allow parliament after his death and avoid any revenge. Muawiyah accepted the terms and asked Hasan to support him in fight against the Kharijites which Hasan refused.

Hasan then returned to Medina but because of lack of support he had hard time there abused by Muawiyah followers. He gave all his belongings twice and his property he decided to split three times between himself and poor people.

Hasan died in Medina on Safar, 50 AH. It is not sure was it Safar 7th or 28th. He was buried at Jannatul Baqee which is a cemetery near Masjid al-Nabawi. It is said that Yazid suggested one of Hasan’s wives to poison her husband mixing that poison and honey. Some say that was by his other wife or his daughter, or maybe even one of the servants. Shia Muslims believe that Yazid promised to his wife gold and marriage and she poisoned Hasan to get wealth.

When Hasan died, his followers from Iraq wrote to Husayn to remove Muawiyah, but he refused following an agreement signed between hasan and Muawiyah.

Hussain ibn Ali was the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah Zahra who was the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter. Hussain’s younger brother was Hasan ibn Ali. Hussain’s importance in Islam is huge because he was Shia Imam, one of The Fourteen Infallibles, Ahl al-Kisa and Ahl al-Bayt. He is considered a martyr because of his fight against tyranny and his refusal to accept Yazid as caliph. He stood up to draw a line between true Islam and new Islam that was promoted by Yazid. The result of that fight was his death in the battle of Karbala 680 where his head was cut off by Shimr Ibn Thil-Jawshan. Every year is a day of mourning for all Shia Muslims as a memory of Hussain, his family and 72 followers who died in the Battle of Karbala. It is the tenth day of Muharram and that the annual funural is called Ashura.

Hussain ibn Ali was born on 3 Sha’aban 4 AH. Hussain and his brother Hasan lived during Muhammad’s lifetime and after he died. Muhammad loved them very much and often saying that those who love Hussain and Hasan love him too, and those who hate Hussain and Hasan hates him actually. His grandsons followed him everywhere in their childhood and mostly during the prayers he kept them on his shoulders or back. He talked about them as they are his Ahl al-Bayt.

Hussain’s and Hassan’s father Ali fought with Muhawiyah and that fight continued later with Hasan, who was seen by Muhawiyah as a threat because he was succesor of Ali. Hasan and Muhawiyah made a peace agreement after which Hasan left Kufa to live with his brother Hussain in Medina. Shias say that his life there was difficult because religious laws were opposed by Umayyad’s government who took over complete power. Hussain became third Imam after his brother Hasan died 669, and he was Imam for about 10 years.

Most important part of Hasan’s agreement with Muhawiyah was that Muhawiyah after his death won’t leave his caliphate to anyone which will allow people to choose new caliph. But Hasan died first and Muhawiyah thought that after Hasan’s death he can change that agreement so he left caliphate to his son Yazid before he died. Hussain opposed that and he didn’t accept yazid as a new caliph claiming that Umayyad rule is unjustice and misguided religiously.

Those who shared his view invited him to come to Kufa to establish his caliphate, because they believed only Muhammad’s descendants have right to lead the Muslim community. They sent Hussain message and that they wanted to be guided by him. Hussain sent his cousin Muslim ibn Aqeel to see situation in Kufa and inform him and Muslim ibn Aqeel informed him that he should join them in Kufa quickly. But a situation changed in Kufa when Yazid placed Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad instead of Noman ibn Bashir. Yazid ordered him to deal with Muslim ibn Aqeel whom later Ubayd-Allah killed, beheaded and to scare crowd outside of palace he thrown his body down.

Yazi decided to kill Muhammad’s grandson Hussain during the Hajj even Islam is very strict about killings in Mecca which are forbidden. Hussain, even he knew that, decided to go and fulfill his destiny. Banu Tayyu offered his support to overthrow Yazid but Hussain refused and continued with only a few of his followers and family. On his way to Kufa he was surrounded by the army of Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad who kept them surrounded for many days without water. Hussains brother Abbas was sent to bring some water but they caught him, cut off his arms and killed him. 72 people were killed in the Battle of Karbala including Hussain’s six month old son.

Hussain was buried in Karbala and his head was sent to Damascus. Later his head was sent back to be placed with his body. His grave is very important for Shia Muslims and therefore the most visited.

The Imam Husayn Shrine is very important for Shia Muslims and a holy place. It is also one of the oldest mosques and located on the grave of Husayn ibn Ali. Husayn Ibn Ali was the Prophet Muhammad’s second grandson after Hasan. Millions of people go there every year because that mosque is the most important place for Shia Muslims outside of Mecca. They come for mourning on the tenth day of Muharram to mark anniversary of Husayin’s death.

Construction of this shrine was prevented by the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs and later thomb damaged by Al-Mutawakkil around 850. Even pilgrimage was prohibited for Shia Muslims. Shrine was built much later in 980 by Adud al-Daula, Buwayhid emir.There are two roads that lead visitors to Karbala. One goes from najaf and other from Baghdad through Al-Musails.

Karbala is located in Iraq about 100 km from Baghdad on southwest. That place is very rich with water and also soil is very good and fertile, but still it was abandoned place. After Husayin arrival to Karbala and the forces of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad surrounded him and his followers, he was curious about the name of that place. People told it is Aqr which means harsh and Husayn told he will ask Allah to be saved from Al Aqr. After he asked about name of that place second time he got the reply that name of that village is Karbala. On that Husayn said it is land of Karb and Bal’a which means a land of torture and trial. Karbala was also called Ghadiriyah, Shat ul Furat and Nainawa. He even bought one piece of land there and that is where he was buried later. That place is called Hair and Shrine is located there on Husayin’s grave.

Both Shrines were built and rebuilt many times repeatedly demolished by many armies who attacked that place. Many Muslim rulers tried to build, rebuild, decorate and keep Shrines in the best possible condition. One of those rulers was Fathe Ali Qajar who ordered 1250 building of two Shrines. One was made on Husayn’s grave and other on the grave of his brother Abbas. Shrine above Husayn’s grave was covered with gold and over  27 meters high. Bottom of the Shrine is made of 12 windows. Complete inside of Shrine is 59 x 75 meters with 65 rooms and 10 gates. Shrine is completely decorated, inside and outside and the rooms inside are used as classrooms for studying.

About the origin of the name of Karbala people have different opinions. Some say Karbala is related to Karbalato language while others believe it came from Arabic words Kar Babel which represents a group of Babylonian villages. These villages include Al-Heer village which is where is located Husayin’s grave. Shia Muslims believe that the archangel Gabriel mentioned that name as a land of agony (karb) and suffering (bala) when he spoke to Muhammad.

Even Karbala was desolated place without any buildings and no matter many rulers tried to restrict building and development of Karbala, in time that small village grew and became a city.

It is told that people who buried Husayn made construction and signs above Husayn’s grave. Later under the ruling of al-Saffah is built much higher construction which stopped during Harun al-Rashid’s rule who also stopped people from pilgrimage. Construction resumed during the al-Mamum’s rule until 850 when al-Mutawakkil destroyed shrine, dug grave and filled with water. His son later allowed pilgrimage again and building resumed after that.

Husayn’s grave is located at the middle of Garden with many gates. Al-Qibla is the most famous gate and walking through that gate person can see on the right side tomb of Husayn’s friend Habib ibn Madhahir al-Asadi. He was Husayn’s friend from childhood. Inside of Shrine are graves of all 72 Husayn’s followers, martyrs of Karbala.